So South African Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile is visiting India,and it looks like some serious discussions happened with President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on June 2,2026 .
And tbh,it’s always good to see these diplomatic meetings happening . They talked about how the friendship between India and South Africa is like a cornerstone for Global South,which is a big statement ah.
President Murmu apparently highlighted that bilateral trade is rising steadily . But she also pushed for a broader partnership in new,emerging sectors,which is the main thing now.
And honestly,this is where things get interesting .
The talks were not just about old trade,but about diversifying into modern industries . President Murmu emphasized expanding engagement in fields that create jobs and drive innovation. This means things like digital infrastructure and vocational training programs to help workforce in both countries .
Seems like they have few clear focus areas:
- Sectoral expansion — focus on technology,pharmaceuticals,and renewable energy
- MSME support — strengthening small and medium enterprises in both countries
- Multilateral cooperation — aligning goals within BRICS,G20,and IORA
But it wasn't just one meeting . Earlier in day,the Deputy President also met with Vice President C P Radhakrishnan and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar . Those meetings were about defense cooperation and investment opportunities.
After his meeting,Jaishankar even posted saying he does "Appreciate his strong commitment to deepening our longstanding partnership."
This is all part of a bigger six-day tour for Deputy President Mashatile,who arrived in India on May 29 . After these official meetings in capital,he is apparently scheduled to travel to Hyderabad also .
The South African Presidency also put out a statement saying the relationship is built on a "shared vision of the world through its principled approach on non-alignment."
All these high-level talks and statements sound very positive . But you always wonder what the actual follow-up on ground will be like…
